Chapter 8: Broadcasting isn’t easy.

Meeting Armo didn’t yield much.

I’d hoped to learn something about Spica, but it was a wasted trip.

“Sorry I couldn’t help.”

Was she still guilty for doubting me?

Yusia offered yet another apology.

“Don’t beat yourself up. It’s not your fault.”
“Still, as a junior, I feel responsible for the mascot’s death and the generational disconnect.”

The second generation killed the first-gen Armo.

Spica’s disappearance probably wasn’t because she disliked the younger ones.

Is it her strong sense of duty?
I felt like I understood Yusia a bit more.

“What’s your next step, Lily?”

I have plenty to do, or maybe not much, but my priorities are clear.

“I’m changing lodgings. For now, another hotel, but I’ll need a place soon.”

Even if the supporter is a special case.
Like Yusia worried, continuing to stream from the same spot could cause trouble.

I’d rather avoid headaches.

“Need help?”
“With finding a hotel?”
“No, I meant a house… never mind, forget I said that.”

Yusia started to say something but stopped.

Instead, she gave a gentle smile and encouragement.

“Good luck. Call me if you run into trouble.”

Yusia’s the first contact in my phone.

I thought it was trouble when she was hostile at first.
Thankfully, it worked out.

“I’m off. It was nice meeting you.”

We’d reached the station.

Not that I was taking the subway, but Yusia walked me to the gate.

“See you, Sia, my junior.”
“Yeah…!”

Her brightest voice of the day.

We waved to each other.

My relationship with Armo didn’t improve, but I’m officially recognized as a magical girl.

Still, only Frozen Princess knows my true identity.
I’m barely adjusted to this changed world, so I’m not sure I can play the senior role.

Might as well let them think I’m a newbie.

“Having a place feels nice!”

I marveled, looking around the cozy studio apartment.

Minimalist decor with just a bed and wardrobe.

This is my home from today.
My funds are low, but I took Frozen Princess’s advice and went for it.

Money can be earned.

Better than getting doxxed.

“I’ve cleared a big hurdle.”

I signed a monthly lease at the real estate office.

Despite my girly appearance, my records say male.

Looking young for my age can be brushed off as baby-faced, but gender’s trickier.

Normally, this could’ve led to a mix-up, like assuming I had surgery, but I was prepared.

Not exactly proud of the method, but I sealed the deal.

What’s done is done.

I tidied the room, sat at my laptop, and started streaming.

【Hello, I’m Scarlet Lily.】
[7 viewers]

A few joined right away.

Notifications must’ve gone out, as the viewer count jumped, and the chat buzzed.

[Why’s the title so polite?]
[Scarlet Lily?]
[When’d you change your name???]
[Is it true you officially debuted?]

Question-mark-filled comments flooded in.

Seeing my face on screen made me a bit nervous.

“Hey, can you hear me?”

Mic test first.

[Pretty voice.]
[Clear as a bell.]
[Keep talking!]
[Bet you’re cute untransformed too.]

Just one sentence, and they’re reacting.

“I don’t know what to say.”

I thought it’d flow once I started, but it’s tough.

[Awkward’s cute lol.]
[How about an intro?]
[You the one who took down the dinosaur lol.]
[News said 5.5th gen, not 6th?]
[Tell us, Scarlet or Scarlet Lily?]

Lots of questions, as expected.

First thing to address.

“I’m Scarlet Lily. There was some confusion, but this is my real name.”

[Surprisingly chill.]
[Cool name vibe.]
[Don’t fall for it, no way a dinosaur-slaying magical girl’s this calm.]
[Lily as in yuri master?]

They’re curious about me.

Back then, I only had short chats at monster-slaying scenes.

This feels fresh.

“Not sure about calm, but this is me. Lily’s just a random addition.”

I answered one by one.

Then, the big debut explanation.

“5.5th gen is temporary. They’re deciding whether to put me in the 5th gen.”

The fifth gen just contracted, so calling me sixth is iffy.
But adding me to the fifth might cause pushback.

Hence, 5.5th gen.

It’s neither here nor there, but I don’t care about hierarchy.

I told Armo to figure it out.

[‘UnderFriedPotato’ donated 50,000 won!]
[Thanks for keeping the peace.]

“Whoa!”

I jumped up in surprise.

A sneak attack donation with no mental prep!

[‘Whoa’ lol.]
[Reaction’s gold lol.]
[Look at her bolt up lol.]

What do I do?
I know I should thank them, but.

“Thank you, UnderFriedPotato, for the donation!”

I bowed as politely as possible.

Is that good?

[Lmao.]
[So proper lol.]
[Bet 100,000 won gets a full dogeza lol.]

Did I mess up?

Even with fees, it’s half a day’s pay.
Isn’t this level of courtesy normal?

“Is there a set reaction or something?”

[No set thing~]
[Total newbie;;]
[Just got internet today?]
[How’d you start streaming?]
[Do a handstand and shout thanks!]

I ignored the handstand bit.

I’m not that primitive to fall for it.

But the reason I started streaming wasn’t entirely pure.

I called my juniors corrupted, but I got hooked on the money.

Not greed, just needing living expenses.

Part-time jobs weren’t an option, so this felt right.

[Heard you’re dating Frozen Princess, true?]

A chat like that popped up.

[Tell us how many polar bears you’ve killed.]
[You saved her from the monkey for that?]
[Yuri’s not the concept?]
[Crazy…]

People piled on like they’d rehearsed.

“No way, Frozen Princess and I are just good teammates.”

[Liar.]
[Good teammates every night?]
[Newbie seducing senior to the bedroom…]

They started spouting fan theories.

“I said it’s not like that!”

I snapped, but it backfired.

[She’s mad lol.]
[Told you, don’t fall for it lol.]
[Concept’s gone lol.]

Can’t a girl get a little mad?

Maybe because I took down dinosaurs and monkeys.
They expect me to be some manic anime magical girl.

While bantering, another donation came.

[‘Frozen Princess’ donated 1,000,000 won!]
[Fighting!]

I doubted my eyes.

One, two, three… six zeros.
A million won?

Not a bug, right?
She just gave me a million won?

[Frozen Princess is here!]
[Is it really her?]
[???????????????]
[???????????????????????]
[Million-won donation, for real?!]
[Throwing cash right off the bat lol.]

The chat scrolled too fast to read.

“Uh…”

My mind went blank.

Do I really have to dogeza?

Is this noble magical girl succumbing to capitalism!?

“…Thank you, Frozen Princess, for the million-won donation!”

No clue if it’s really her, but I kept it safe.

As if that wasn’t chaotic enough.

[‘Frozen Princess’ donated 1,000,000 won!]
[It’s really me.]

Shock.

Spending another million just to say that?

What an inefficient way to communicate!

But thinking that was the end was naive.

[‘Frozen Princess’ donated 1,000,000 won!]
[Lily, I’m rooting for you.]

Officially as my senior.

Secretly as my fan and junior, sending overwhelming support.

From polar bear welfare questions to doubts about Frozen Princess’s identity.
The chat was on the verge of exploding.

Too much for a newbie streamer to handle.

Man, streaming’s tough.